Freshwater By Crystal Picco

The community of Freshwater, once called La Fontaine, is located in Placentia Bay approximately 50 km. from the TCH and 120 km from St. John's. It is located just westward of the historic site of Castle Hill. Since amalgamation of the towns in the area Freshwater has become part of the Town of Placentia and now has a population of over 1200 people. The community has its share of natural wonders and has several hills which offer spectacular views, especially at night, of the town and the bay. One of the famous hills is Old Settlement Hill which is located high above the town and is well populated all the way to the top.

Freshwater has many services and activities to offer its people, probably more than usual for a community its size. This is due in large part to the enthusiastic and hardworking nature of its people, and their continuous spirit of community involvement. The community has a beautiful new community center which is used for card games (every Monday night), bingos, weddings, socials, etc. Senior citizens are active and on the go, often taking trips to places such as St. John's and Carbonear. In late August a family day is held at the community center. During the summer many programs are offered for the youth including t-ball, softball and basketball. Recently a new playground was built in the community, and was named in memory of a former Parish Priest, Father Penny. During Christmas there is the usual tradition of holding a parade, and a volunteer appreciain night. As well, the community has a convenience store, a fast food restaurant, a new hospitality home, a club, an autobody/automotive repair garage, a barber shop, and a fire extingusisher sales and service outlet. In addition, it has the services of the Town of Placentia's Fire Department.

 In 1996 Holy Rosary School, which serviced students from grades K to 8 for many years, was closed due to declining enrollments. These students now attend school in the nearby communities of Dunville and Placentia. The gym in Holy Rosary School has been turned over to the Holy Rosary Parish in the community so that it can be used on an ongoing basis for special programs, etc. This gym is well known in the area for the quality of its workmanship and materials. It was built as a recreational facility for the youth of Freshwater in the late 1960's and is said to be one of the best of its kind in the province.The work was done by men of the Parish on weekends, evenings, etc. and has received extensive use ever since, not only by the school, but by numerous community groups of all ages.
 
 

Historical Information

Local traditions maintain that the original name for Freshwater was LaFontaine, derived from the French phase La Fontain, meaning "the fountain", possibly referring to the stream that ran down the slopes to the cove. E.R Seary (1971) states that Captain James Cook, in his map The Road and Harbour of Placentia (1762), first named the site "Freshwater Bay". Freshwater was likely a place for fishing ships to replenish their supplies of fresh water, even as early as the sixteenth century.
 

The census of 1845 shows the community of Freshwater as having a population of 18 residents, which increased to 25 in 1857. In 1901 there were just nine families living there and these were mostly Kelly families. The names Hilliard and O'Neill are also given (in Smallwood's Encyclopedia of Nfld) as being among the first settlers. These same families totalled 57 people in 1911. Because Freshwater lacked a proper harbour or sufficient beach front to support a large fishing industry, early settlement, which took place near the cove, was fairly restricted. Early census reports indicated that a sizable proportion of the population was Irish-born, and it is likely that Freshwater was settled by immigrants brought to Newfoundland by way of the merchant houses of Placentia. Numbers declined slightly to only 45 residents in 1935.

Until World War II the community was a tiny fishing settlement which relied on the small-boat, inshore cod fishery. The people were also engaged in farming. As well, the community served as a landing place for some of the early telegraph cables in the Placentia area.

The opening of the U.S. Naval Base in the 1940's caused an influx of people to the community. This was due to the fact that the United States government acquired a large portion of land at Argentia, north of Freshwater, for the construction of this base. The people of Argentia, approximately 500, were evacuated to nearby communities, in particular to Freshwater. Father Dee arrived to Freshwater with many of the families. His first duty was to establish a cemetery there to accommodate the bodies that had to be moved from the cemeteries in Argentia. The Mahers, who moved from Argentia, set up a general store. Frank Maher opened the first garage. The Healey and O'Reilly families also set up grocery stores, and George Murphy from Harbour Buffett opened a dry goods and grocery store. Most of the buildings were made of brick.
 
 

Labourers from all parts of Newfoundland flooded the Argentia-Placentia area in search of employment. Because of its large tracts of sloping but suitable land and its location just off the road to Argentia, the small fishing village of Freshwater soon accommodated a large portion of this influx of people in temporary shacks on what was called Settlement Hill west or Old Settlement Hill until permanent homes were built. Due to the size of the base, area residents were guaranteed employment, economic prosperity and stability. Many of the people who moved to Freshwater for early employment made the community their permanent home. Some American families also resided in Freshwater while waiting for accommodations on the base.

 In 1945 the population of Freshwater was 595 and by 1956 it had reached 1,048. The period from 1941 to 1964 was a boom period in the economy of Freshwater. In 1950 the first town council was formed (Frank Maher acted as the first mayor), and water and sewerage systems were installed. In 1944 a Roman Catholic church was erected, and by 1945 a larger house, replacing a temporary one built the previous year, was constructed to accommodate the first resident priest. The priest's previous accommodation was used as a school until Holy Rosary School was completed in 1953 through community labour. The building of the school was marked also by the coming of the Presentation Sisters to the community; a convent and new Presbytery were completed by 1961. In 1963 a post office was built, and by 1967 a town hall, containing a library and a fire station, was opened. Recreation facilities, including a ball field and playground, were added to the community during 1970 and 1971. Local businesses also blossomed during this period, including a "highly prosperous" rental business.

In 1969 a major phase-down occurred, causing problems for surrounding communities in terms of employment and livelihood. The layoffs actually started in 1964, and the situation was complicated by the arrival of families from the islands in Placentia Bay. In the schools, classrooms were overburdened by the government resettlement program which allocated 61 new families to Freshwater but provided no additional funding to the school board.

A new railway station was built in 1965 in Freshwater, providing a few new jobs. The Electric Reduction Company of Canada (ERCO) plant at Long Harbour was a major source of alternative employment, as was the construction of the oil refinery at Come By Chance. Fishing and employment in area service industries and fish plants were other sources of work, but the phase-down of the base was still felt. Reductions in C.N. Marine coastal and ferry service at Argentia were made in 1981 and 1982 worsening the employment situation. The response of local businessmen and citizens in Freshwater to these economic blows was the formation of a local association which pressed government for developmental financing and other aid.
 
 

Mainly as a result of employment problems, the population of Freshwater steadily dropped from 1,562 in 1972 to 1,462 by 1976 and 1,276 by 1981 as families left the town, many for employment opportunities in mainland Canada. In 1986 there were 320 families and 1219 residents in the community. That number has increased slightly since then.
 
 

A recollection of "firsts" for the community of Freshwater

 Recalled by two local residents, Patrick and Lena O'Reilly , who were among the first settlers in the community.

 The first major community event was a garden party and dance.
The first community song was My Alabama Sweetheart.
The first car was owned by an O'Reilly and was a 1928 Chrysler. It had a square body.
The first post office was a small shack on the side of the road.
Lena Cunningham, now O'Reilly, mailed the first letter from Freshwater and the stamp cost 3 cents.
The first money order was sent by Kevin Maher.
The first message sent was from Clara O'Rielly to the U.S.